King James Version
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice;
else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart,
O God,
thou wilt not despise.
How we wish happiness would never end!
How we wish we, and our loved ones, would always be peaceful, happy, content, prosperous, alive, safe, harmonious.
But life isn't so.
Adversity strikes.
Although when all is well, something nags at us, whispering that things can't last forever.
And we try to shelf the idea, hoping nothing will mar our happiness.
Still, life dishes what it will.
Leaving us devastated, oftentimes, in great shock.
There is nothing certain, but GOD.
The WILL of GOD.
The WAYS of GOD.
The POWER of GOD.
Only through JESUS do we have EVERLASTING LIFE.
John 3:16
King James Version
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
JESUS also declared the only thing that will remain is His WORD.
Matthew 24:35
King James Version
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away.
We can only find comfort in GOD's WORD, for every pain, every challenge, every threat.
So, many of us suffer from all forms of adversity.
All forms of pain.
All forms of trial.
All forms of test.
All forms of persecution.
Sometimes, a never-ending series of shocks, and challenges.
Threats, bankruptcies, miscarriages, even miscarriage in justice, humiliation, crime, cruelty in many forms, death of people we love.
We look to others who seem to be okay, as if life dealt them a nice card.
And we look to ourselves, wondering why life is much more difficult.
Surely, there is a point to it all?
We look at the world, thinking that's another thing that doesn't make sense.
We look to people, who seem oblivious to it all.
And yet, we also know all of us try to put some semblance of order, peace, and happiness in our lives.
Some seek God.
Others seek liquor.
Others turn to drugs.
Others turn to distractions.
Anything else but having to face reality.
There can be nothing more real when you become born again.
As a Christian, JESUS expects you follow Him.
That you become a disciple.
And there's only one way to do so.
Luke 9:23
King James Version
23 And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
We take up our cross daily.
Just as JESUS did in Calvary.
There are no shortcuts to knowing GOD.
You will be led to JESUS.
You will be taught by the HOLY SPIRIT.
Your heart will be torn wide open.
You must offer that shattered, bruised, or anxious heart, to GOD.
Joel 2:13
King James Version
13 And rend your heart,
and not your garments,
and turn unto the Lord your God:
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger,
and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil.
But know that God is in control of everything.
Isaiah 45:5-7
King James Version
5 I am the Lord,
and there is none else,
there is no God beside me:
I girded thee,
though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun,
and from the west,
that there is none beside me.
I am the Lord,
and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace,
and create evil:
I the Lord do all these things.
Remember Job?
How Satan challenged God about the faithful servant?
Job 1:10-11
King James Version
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him,
and about his house,
and about all that he hath on every side?
thou hast blessed the work of his hands,
and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now,
and touch all that he hath,
and he will curse thee to thy face.
And look how GOD answered:
Job 1:12
King James Version
12 And the Lord said unto Satan,
Behold,
all that he hath is in thy power;
only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
How dearly the accuser wanted Job to fail, and to curse God.
Of course, Job loved the LORD too much, and didn't take anything personally.
God is confident in those who are His.
TRUE believers carry the SEAL of GOD.
2 Timothy 2:19
King James Version
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And,
let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.
Only a true believer can begin to understand the ways of GOD.
Only a person of deep faith, won't accuse God of punishing him, or forgetting him.
God is merciful.
We're not.
God is loving.
We try to be.
God is steady.
We are all over the place.
In GOD's unfailing mercy, and wisdom, adversity serves a purpose.
Romans 5:1-6
King James Version
5 Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience,
experience;
and experience,
hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
We must be gentle with ourselves, for only GOD knows the "why" of things.
Isaiah 55:8-9
King James Version
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Let us TRUST GOD's WISDOM.
Psalm 116:5-7
King James Version
5 Gracious is the Lord,
and righteous;
yea,
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserveth the simple:
I was brought low,
and he helped me.
7 Return unto thy rest,
O my soul;
for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Only through our shattered heart, a broken existence, a humbled person, can GOD's GLORY be made manifest in us.
Pretty much the humbling of His chosen nation, whenever they commit abominations upon Him.
Not that it delights the Lord to mete out punishment.
But it opens our heart, for His mercies.
In times of adversity, we either ask God why, or we rage at Him.
But the LORD remains steadfast in His love, for we are His children.
Psalm 34:18
King James Version
18 The Lord is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart;
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
More than ever, we need the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD to comfort us, as we go through our personal trials, tests, and tribulations.
Romans 8:26-27
King James Version
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
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